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Review Article Plastic and Aesthetic Research

Liposuction for chronic medical diseases

and noncosmetic conditions: review of the

literature

Hamdy Abuelhassan El-Khatib
Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Alkhor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 00974, Qatar.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Hamdy Abuelhassan El-Khatib, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Alkhor Hospital, Hamad Medical
Corporation, Doha 00974, Qatar. E-mail: hamdya24@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this systematic literature review was to evaluate the safety of liposuction techniques
and to identify the cosmetic and noncosmetic application of liposuction. Liposuction can be used to
improve the quality-of-life in patients with disabling medical conditions in addition to its use for
cosmetic rejuvenation. An online search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, and SciELO
were conducted. Forty-seven original articles reported from 1982 to February 2014 were included in
this review. The articles reported on the use as well as the limitations of liposuction for treatment of
noncosmetic and disabling medical conditions. The criteria used for selection of articles were: large
sample size and originality. The case reports were excluded. There was a broad agreement about the
applicability and the efficacy of the liposuction for treatment of these chronic medical conditions, such
as multiple systemic lipomatosis, dercum’s disease, chronic lymphedema, and axillary hyperhidrosis.
Literatures review confirmed that Liposuction technique has provided significant and stable cure for
these chronic medical conditions. Liposuction is the most frequent esthetic procedure for adipose
tissue reduction and treatment of lipedema worldwide. Apart from esthetic indications, liposuction
can also be used to treat chronic medical diseases and noncosmetic conditions.

Key words:
Liposuction, noncosmetic indications, lipomatosis

INTRODUCTION Illouz developed the wet tumescent liposuction that helped
[4]
in standardization and refinement of this technique in 1977.
[5]
Five thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptian Field, an American dermatologist, started the procedure in
mummification methods were based on removal of all USA using the Fischer’s suction machine. The first American
internal organs and subcutaneous fat except the heart, liposuction course was taught 1982 by Dolsky et al. [6]
they used the liposuction technique via a small hole to In 1987, Klein developed a formula of 0.05% lidocaine,
[7]
[1]
aspirate the whole body contents. The traditional dry 1:1,000,000 epinephrine, and 10 mL of bicarbonate
liposuction technique was introduced more than 50 years and a liter of normal saline. The Klein formula allowed
ago. The term liposculpture was introduced by Teimouria large liposuction to be done under local anesthesia and
and Fisher and Fournier and Otteni who advocated also provided patient a painless 24 h postoperatively.
[2]
[3]
the criss‑cross technique.
Zocchi in 1992, presented a revolutionary body
[8]
contouring technique based using ultrasound energy.
Access this article online
This allows selective destruction of lipocytes by means
Quick Response Code: of cavitation and elimination of the fluid fraction (fatty
Website:
www.parjournal.net acids). The ultrasound waves stimulate the collagen in
deep dermis and initiate lifting of the skin.
[9]
DOI: In 1992, Apfelberg described the use of laser assisted
10.4103/2347-9264.149362 lipolysis. Laser‑assisted liposuction uses laser energy
lasers heat the fat, turning it semi‑soft and making it
Plast Aesthet Res || Vol 2 || Issue 1 || Jan 15, 2015 1